Al Ayoubi, Aula

painting

These figures are not merely women with fruit, but heavenly houris. They represent my city of Damascus, with its topography of streets, rivers, houses, bridges, flowers and trees inscribed on their bodies and faces.

The pomegranate traditionally represents heavenly rewards, as well as fertility. Just as every individual aril of the pomegranate fruit is its own pleasure, each of these figures with their various colors and markings offers the viewer their own dreams and rewards.